Mechanical perforator



June 14, 1949. R. F. MALLINA MECHANICAL PERFORATOR Filed Jan. 2o, 1947 3Sheets-Sheet l /Nt/ENTOR B y R.F.`MALL/NA Q12 a/,M

June 14, 1949. R. F. MALLINA MECHANICAL PERFORATOR 5 Shee'ts-Sheet 2Filed Jan. 20, 1947 coat 7:4PE [Perf/0n) FIG. 4

Rvs/@marron NoLJ.

REPERFURATOR Na.

THRU REFERFORATORS NOS. 2 T08.

zeno EPE/ametro@ x REPEPFURTOk NOJ- RERFORTOR HVL-A0E@ /Nl/E/VTOR A, R.E MALL /NA Q a? M 'FIG' zsno REPEnFo/Mro.

ATTORNEY R. F. MALLINA MECHANICAL PERFORATOR June 14, 1949.v

3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filved Jan. v2O, 1947 m m w I..

4A Rw mL a VCM wn R..

if ZZ@ A AT TORMF'V Patented June 14, 1949 UNITED ySTAT ES PATENT"GfFFIfCE MECHANICAL PERFORATOR- New York Applicationlanuary 20, 197417,Serial N10. 7225977 l1 Claims.

f1. This invention relates to Atape,perforators and particularly toa-stape'perforator of `the type ydesigned to .funotionfas 'oneofwaggroup ofv perfo- Irators, under theselectivefoontrol of acode-sensinsdeve, in va Vsystem ,for sorting code entries recorded inmixed-up-iashion-on a `primary-recording medium, Isuch-,as .a Vcodetape.

--in' a system :of thegabovedescribed general character disclosed inlm'ycopending application,

`Serial No. :'635',355,zfiled December 15, 19'45, a primaryrecordingzmediuzm. such Las a codetape has recordedfthereon amultiplicity. of Unsorted Amultidigit numberseach digit of whichissymbolized by a Vdifferent,'.patern f or :two aperforations Vderivedfrom a xed pattern of five. A- `group :oi-ten repeifforators:functionsunder control -of a 'common `code-esensirig :device fto selectivelyreproduce, on ,individual code etapes, the lcode-psymbolized numbers foffthe iprimary tape :in :numerical order,

each .reperforator being :conditioned `to reproduce on its Atape'`only-those numbers which'` contain 4a particulardigitalicode patern.'The reperforators areindividually.'designatedlas the Nos.1,2,i3 9 andzero reperforator and each `is physically -characterizedrby thecodepa'tternof thefdigittby ywliichlit is individuallydesignated;.physical those numbers `which containfthedigital pattern of thernumeral l; Similarly, the No. 2 repertorator operates to reproduce only'those numbers containing/the .digitalpattern of the numeral-.2; and soon.

Furthermore, the system provides means whereby fthe reperorators-:arerendered operable to reproduce numbers containing .their individuallycharacterizing digitalf'patterns `only when the l digital -patternappears 2in .a particular digital position. Thus, `afmultiplicityofcode-symbolized rumbers'appearing on fthe'primary tape maybesubjectedto vsorting operations corresponding in number tothe numberofdigital positions 4the 'numbers sorted. ForA example, in sortingv five-`digit numbers, fthe sorting operations Yare undertaken successively in'thefunits tens, "hundreds, ctc. channels, ler1-digital positions, :andvwhen the nal sort is completed -the'tape ofzeachrreperlforater wilcontain a series -of code-symbolized numbers arranged inwnumericalorder, the :numbers .reproduced on :each reperforator .tape bearing, rinthe 'highest digitalposition thereof, :the

digital pattern Aby which ,thereperforator -is physicallycharacterized.r Thusythe tapeof the No. 1 reperforator Wil lhavereproduced thereon, in .nwnerical,ordery all thenumbers of` the tenthousaudi-series `recorded on. the lprimary tape; the tape of the No. 2reperforator vwill .have reproduced thereon, in numerical order, all the`nurnbers of the twenty thousandseries; andsofon.

It vis the object of the inventiondisclosed herein to provideannimprovedperforatory unit, ror yreperorator of `the typeidisclosed linYthe above- 4ident-ined copending application, 4which is .fully.mechanical in operation and control; .is simple and A compact indesgn/andfpositive .in operation; and which otherwise IendsitSeItto-gang.operation :under 4control, of/ a common code-sensing device, lorreader.

The freperforator of this.inventioncoinprises agplurality -of ltapefperforating-leversranda cor- :responding` number. Jof4 cede leversvmounted .for `limitedrotation, about their longitudinal axes undercontrol foie `code-.sensing device. yEach .code lever iis rprovided fat.lone endl witha code pin and at -iits other `end with .anl integralprojection constituting an interference or interponent mem- -ber for`normally Ainhibiting a `'corresponding perforating 'lever againstoperation. Disposed immediately above each-group of.: `iive code pinsisa select lever provided with,v two code-holes patterned tozsymbolize ayparticular digit. When the code y,leversyare operated :in -suoh a,manner asrto :bringtwo of the codeqpins thereof into alignment :withthe two 'holes Ainthe -select -lever and :the selectleverzis otherwiseenabled to-operlate, it does spo-.to `permit rthe operation ofafcorresponding ipair :of perforating` flevers, fit. being yunderstoodthat, inoideu'tztothe :operation -ofany code lever, its`associatedinterponent lmember is movedout of -thezline of rtraveLofthefcorrespondinaperiorating.lever; "llhus,` each of ,agangofreperforators'is physioallyqcharacterized ftoldeteot the operation of aparticular pair of code levers 'correspondingrto a particular -digitrandl -isenailoled to operate a ,corresponding pair of perioatingvlevers and thereby eieot a coresponding pe'foration -orra .recordingtape. `Each `reperfuvrat'or 'is provided with as ymany 'select levers-as lthere-are ,charactersor digits-in the items which are 4recorded ona primary 4tapeand which, are `tobe reproduced by the reperforators andmanually foperablewmeans is .providedfor selectively enabling theselectzleverslso thatan item on .the primary ,tape `landrincludingfaicode pattern ,corresponding tothe code pattern by which .the

.select levers are physically` characterized may be caused to bereproduced on a reperforator tape depending upon the digital position inwhich the particular code pattern appears. In other words, theperforator of this invention through the media of code patterned selectlevers can beI enabled to reproduce on its code tape only items whichcontain a particular code pattern and may be selectively enabled toreproduce such item only when the particular code pattern appears in aparticular digital position. The code employed in the present case isthe well known, so called two out of live code used in the system of theabove-identified copending application. However, in the present case theve points on the 'tape allocated to any digital position are arranged intwo rows instead of in one row, the positions in the two rows beingstaggered relative to each other. This does not, in any way, distinguishthe code from that employed in my earlier application since the code isdetermined in each case by the transverse positions on the tape.

The features which characterize the tape perforator of this inventionwill be readily understood from the following detailed description whenread with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a reperforator embodying the features ofthe invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation, partly in section, of the reperforatorshown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section of a primary code tapeillustrating the manner in which each of the digits 1 to 9, and zero issymbolized, in code, by two perforations derived from a fixed pattern ofve;

Fig. i is a top plan view of three reperforator units and a code-sensingdevice showing particularly the ve select levers of each reperforatorand their corresponding channel select cylinders; the manually operablemeans for variably setting the select cylinders; the metal tapes whichoperate under control of the code-sensing device to set the reperforatorcode levers, and the common motor means for driving the cam shaft of thereperforators;

Fig. 5 illustrates the metal tapes employed to operate the reperforatorcode levers under control of the code-sensing device, or reader;

Fig. 6 is a front view schematic corresponding to the top plan schematicof Fig. 4; and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged schematic view illustrating a portion of each oftwo select levers of each of ten reperforators. This gure is primarilyan explanatory schematic view employed particularly to illustrate themanner in which the select levers are individually characterized by adistinctive code pattern of two perforations, or holes derived from afixed pattern of five.

The reperforator of this invention is designed to reproduce five-digitnumbers, each digit of which is symbolized on the primary code tape 80(Fig. 3) by two perforations. In Fig. 3 the tape portion illustrated isfragmentary and shows only the areas thereof which are allocated to theunits, tens and hundreds digital positions or channels. This limitedshowing is for purposes of simplicity only. Each digital position isallocated five points transversely positioned on the tape. The threedigital channels, the units, tens and hundreds channels, are designatedby the letters F, E and D, respectively. The code employed to identifyeach digit is the well known two out of rive code, it being understoodthat ten different combinations of two perforations may be derived froma fixed pattern of five. In the illustration, the five points at which aperforation may be made are shown occupying two parallel transverselines, the rst, third and fth positions occupying one line and thesecond and fourth positions occupying a second line. Zero is illustratedas symbolized by two perforations appearing in the rst and secondtransverse positions; digit l is symbolized by two perforationsappearing in the second and third positions; digit 2 by two perforationsappearing in the third and fourth positions; digit 3 by two perforationsappearing in the fourth and fifth positions; digit 4: by twoperforations appearing in the rst and third positions; digit 5 by twoperforations appearing in the second and fourth positions; digit 6 bytwo perforations appearing in the second and ith positions; digit 7 bytwo perforations appearing in the first and fourth positions; the digit8 by two perforations in the second and fourth positions; and the digit9 by two perforations in the first and fifth positions. As will bedescribed more fully hereinafter, each of the ten reperforators whichoperate under the control of a code-sensing device is provided with fiveselect levers which are physically characterized by a five-code holepattern in which two of the holes identify a particular digital pattern,the digital pattern of the select levers of the No. l reperioratorcorresponding to the pattern of the digit 1; the digital pattern of theselect levers of the No. 2 reperforator corresponding to the pattern ofthe digit 2; and so on. The select levers control the operation of thecorresponding reperforator in accordance with the digital patterncarried thereby.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, thereperforator of this invention is housed in a suitable housingcomprising front and rear walls I0, one of which appears in Fig. 1 andthe other in Fig. 2, and end walls I 2, only one of which appears in thedrawings.

Two pairs of clamping brackets I3 are suitably mounted in spacedrelation between the front and rear walls I0. Between each pair of upperand lower brackets I3 there is clamped a selector tape supporting blockI4. This member may be constructed as a unitary element as disclosed, orit may consist of a plurality of superposed layers. The inner face ofeach block id is provided with a plurality of slots I5 which extend theentire length of the block. The slots of each block are spacedvertically equidistant from each other and the slots of one block arestaggered with respect to the slots of the other block. As illustrated,the right block (Fig. 2) accommodates thirteen slots and the left blocktwelve slots. Each slot accommodates a at nieta] tape Iii, which, aswill appear from a later description. moves longitudinally in itsparticular slot under control of the code-sensing device and against therestraining iniiuence of a coil spring I'l. The coil springs II normallybias the ta es I ii in their home positions, each spring having one endanchored to the front wall I0 and the other hooked, or otherwise securedto one end of the tape as shown in Fig. l. It is to be understood thatthe tapes I5 are common to all ten reperforators and each is secured tothe upper end of a code lever 20 (Figs. 4 and 6) of a code-sensingdevice so as to individually respond to the movement of such codelevers.

Each tape It, as illustrated in Fig. 5, is provided with one notch I8per reperforator, so that in a sorting system involving tenreperforators each tape Iii` is provided with ten equispaced 5 notches.The `dimensions-of the slots :L5 :and: loi' theY tapes lili` are'suchthat La -notchebearing--strip of each tape projects beyond -thevconneszfof its corresponding slot. As Vwill appear presently, .the tapenotches serve l:to-'couple -the tapes withcorresponding reperforatorcode levers i9.

Within the area between the two inner .faces of the blocks IllL therelare located 4twenty-tlve codelevers I8. Eachcode'lever .Wis essentiallya vertically mounted rod-like structure withe`4 recessineach of itsvupper fandlower ends. v'Each of these recesses accommodates la -pin 281which projects through a suitable hole in :the overhanging portions of apair of'upper 'and lower mounting brackets i3V whereby the .code l-everiis 4pivotally mounted thereon and adapted 'to rotate about itslongitudinal axis under Athe inuence of a corresponding flat metal tapezl. The movementor ya tape-l B'lis yimparted to its correspondingcodelever 'I9 by virtue of the engagementzof .a tape notch `I8 lwith aprojection 23 extending -laterally from one edgeofthe code lever. Sincethere are twenty-five ltapes ri each 'individual to a code 4lever I9there are twenty-five code levers arranged in two oppositely disposedgroups, with individually engageable by a different notch its Y* in lthe`tapes lli, the notches l'of the tapes being similarly arranged inVstepped array-topermitthis engagement. 'It is apparent from thedescription `thus far advanced that whenever any-of thetapes I6 is slid`longitudinally in its corresponding slot l5 by the code levers .26' ofthe code-sensing device, or reader (Figs. 4'and 6), alcol-respondingreperforator vcode lever fI-9l .is pivotally .moved about its pivot pin20 because of the .coupling eiected by its lateral projection 23'andithe Acorrespending tape notch i8.

Each'eode lever I'ipat` its upper-.endis provided vwith a verticallyprojecting integrally liormed code pin 2| and at its lower .-endffwitha:laterally projecting integrally formed member .'22 1which-is i Atorlever in aliclockwise direction, andiit isnperF able toan alternateposition in -vzhichnit .clears the pin At6 to permit' .the operation.-.o'f rthe correspcndingperforator ilever. Normally, eachiinterponentmember :221 of a code .fleverfis located- :ln-the line oi travel of -apin :E6 of. a corresponding perforator lever 47 so that when in:their-normal positions .the interponent members 212. Vpreventzthefoperation .of their corresponding perfor-atar levers. zobviously,whenl a :code lever .l 9 is yactuated by Yits respective tapeiI-- :under/control of the code-sensing device, its .corresponding-.interponentmember 22 is moved out of fthelineof travel ofzapin irof a correspondingperforator Ilever 141'! V.thus :enabling the peri-crater .lever -foroperation.

,A shaft 12a-t, `horizontally mounted -between-the front and rear wallsl0;of lthe reperioratortcarries `ivelselect leversx; This shaft maybesecured `to the walls lll in Aany suitable manner as vby means-ofscrews .25, one of whichfagpcears in Eig; l. u

Asillustrated. in- Figs. l. ande, `the select levers 1-2 6' areVmounted--in horizontal spaced relation and .each is irregularlycontoured tol lprovide .a- .-rela ftivel-y large areafsubstantiallymidway@i its i. ends. :Upon :this `area teach lselect lever bears yve.codc

.foratoix bones28: These-codeholes.areschematicallrxindi-.

cated .infFigl 4 andare more Aclearly illustrated in iFig. 'T. iin Fig.4 only the :two holes 4whichiconstituteithephysical characterization,iin accordance with a particular digital code pattern, areshowncornplete whereas all .ve code .holes .are illustratedinFigf?.

`Theselect 1evers SZ'Elextend to the -fleft (Fig. 112) from thesupporting shaftv 2d soaslto bridge the code :pins .2l yof :the `codelevers :.I Quand have their endsresting on the periphery of .a select`cylinder '29. `Substantiallymidway ofthe code hole bearing portionsandthe 'left ends, the select levers arevsupported innormal positions on.the bariBB which is integrally formed with two right angu larlydisposed arms .34 which are mounted vfor rotation yon the horizontal ishaft .35. `One arm 3.4 appears iin Fig. '1 andithe other .in .Fig-2.

yAslpreviously indicated, each select :lever fis vprovided-.withiivezcode holes .28 and is -allocatedto Jive codelevers :l'9. @ne selectlever is allocated tothe vrlvecode levers .which correspond rtcitheunits digital position of a number; ,anotherzato the `i'ivecode leverswhich correspond to the; tens digital position. of'a number, and so on,Nor mallyand1as clearly illustrated Ain Fig. 7, three oftthe code holesof each select lever are vin -ver-- ticalalignment lwith threecode'pinsZll of ycorresponding code vlevers .I9 andtwo` of .the codeholes aref out' of .alignment .with the remaining .twocode lever pins.It is apparent therefore that :unless all'ivescode holes 23 of a selectllever are :inxvertical alignment-with the corresponding code-pins 21,.the said select lever is precluded from operation in the directionofthe code Ipins. Thus-itis that with the code levers i9 in theirnormaliunactuated positions the selectleversiare inhibited fromoperating. and can be operated only when the two misaligned vcodel pins.are brought vinto `alignment with the corresponding select lever codeholes.

Forexample the misaligned code holes of the select-leversV ofreperforator No. l occupy the second ,and .third positions whichidentify the digit '1; `,the misaligned-code holes of the select,leversof reperiorator No. 2 occupy,7 the third and :fourthpositionswhich identify the digit 2; land sexen .down to ythe IZeroreperforator, the select 'lever code holes of which occupy the -rst andsecond positions which identify zero. 'perorator is thereforephysically7 ycllaracterized Each reby a code pattern which lcorresponds.to thepat tern of the .digit by which the reperforator is designated.

code-levers inl all ten reperforators throughthe interconnecting-tapesIt. If the code `pattern encountered, -for example, is thatcorresponding to Vthe-digit 2, code levers corresponding to .code.povsitions 3 and 4 will be `operated in each .reper- I-Iowever, sinceit is only in reperforator No. 2 that Athe Voperation of theccdeleverscorresponding to code positions 3 and 4 results in thealignment of all five code lever pins with their corresponding selectlever code holes, only a select lever of the No. 2 reperforator will beenabled for operation, It is apparent therefore that by virtue of theidentification of the select levers of each reperforator, in accordancewith a diierent digital code pattern, the reperforators are renderedselectively operable to reproduce only those digits which contain theirparticular identifying digital code pattern, it being understood, and aswill be more fully described hereinafter, that one of the reperforatorselect levers must be enabled in order for the reperforator to perform apunching operation.

Reverting back to Figs. l and 2, each reperforator is provided with aselect cylinder 29 mounted on a common shaft 3|] so as to be disposedimmediately below the free ends of the select levers 26. The selectcylinder is provided with ve flat sections 3| disposed seventy-twodegrees apart in spirally staggered relation on the cylinder peripheryso that the cylinder may assume any one of ve positions, in each ofwhich it presents one flat surface to the underside of a different oneof the select levers 2E. The setting of the cylinder 29 is attainedthrough the medium of a hand crank 32 (Fig. 4) mounted on one end of theshaft 30. The flat portions 3| of the select cylinder 29 are ofsuflicient depth to permit the free ends of corresponding select levers25 to move thereinto under the action of individual coil springs 45,unless otherwise restrained from doing so. The shaft 39 is common to allten reperforators and bears ten select cylinders 29, one for eachreperforator.

Normally the ve select levers 23 are restrained againstcounter-clockwise rotation about the shaft 24 by the common stop bar 33previously referred to. This bar is horizontally disposed beneath theleft ends of the select levers so as to provide a rest therefor. Theresting edge of the bar 33 is in substantial alignment with theperiphery of the select cylinder at its uppermost portion so that, whenthe bar moves downwardly in a manner to be described hereinafter, iourof the five select levers will be incapable of following the bar becauseonly one select lever at any one time is located directly above a ilatportion on the cylinder. Thus by rotating the cylinder 29 to its variouspositions any one of the ve select levers may be selected for operation.Selection of a particular select lever in this manner determines inwhich digital channel, or position a code sorting operation is to beundertaken.

The stop bar 33 is controlled in its movement through a pair of linkrods 36 (only one of which appears in Fig. 2) which connect with thehorizontal rod 31 formed integrally with the end pieces 38 which aremounted for pivoted movement about the shaft 39. A shaft 49 disposedimmediately below the rod 31 supports a roller 4| which functions as acam follower, being in constant engagement with the periphery of therear cam 42. The cam 42 and a second cam 43 are mounted on a commonshaft 44. The shaft 44, like shaft 3|] is common to all tenreperforators and has its longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinalaxis of shaft 30. Obviously, as the cam 42 is rotated, the bar 33 ismoved downwardly during one part of the cycle of cam rotation and isthen moved upwardly during the second part of the cycle. The bar 33therefore is moved out of the path of the select levers 26 at regularintervals as the cam 42 is rotated, thereby permitting the one thereofwhose free end is located opposite a at surface on the periphery ofselect cylinder 29 and whose five code holes are in vertical alignmentwith the code pins 2| of the ve corresponding code levers I9, to bemoved in a counter-clock- Wise direction under the action of itsindividual coil spring 45.

A horizontally disposed shaft 45 supports twenty-five perforator levers41 in equispaced relation and a common control member comprising threeangularly disposed radial arms 48, 49 and 53. The arm 48 is connected toa similar arm (not shown in Fig. 2) by means of a common horizontallatch bar 5|. The latch bar 5| extends substantially the entire depth ofthe reperforator and is normally in engagement with a common latch lever52. The latch lever 52 is integrally formed with a yoke-shaped member 54which is mounted on shaft 55 and whose crosspiece is designated by thenumeral 53. The latch lever 52 is held in tensioned engagement with thecommon latch bar 5| by means of a coil spring 55 which has one endanchored to the front wall |0 at 51, and the other end in hookedengagement with the lever 52, as illustrated. Each of the live selectlevers 26 is provided with an integral offset projection 5S all of whichnormally abut the bar 53. Thus when any one of the select levers isoperated in the manner previously described, its integral projection 53serves to rotate the common latch lever 52 in a clockwise directionagainst the restraining influence of spring 56. This movement of thelatch lever 52 unlatches the latch bar 5|. As will be describedpresently, the unlatching of latch bar 5| enables the common controlmember comprising arms 48, 49 and 50 for operation under control of cam43, it being observed that roller 55 carried by arm 49 of the controlmember is held in communication with the periphery of cam 43 by theaction of spring 60.

The arm 49 of the control member carries a common stop bar 6I which, inthe normal position illustrated, precludes the clockwise operation ofthe perforator levers 41, each lever 41 being provided with a dependingradial arm 62 which abuts the lower edge of the common stop bar andwhich is held in tensioned engagement therewith by a correspondingindividual coil spring 33. It is apparent that, when the latch lever 52is actuated to clear the latch bar 5| incident to the actuation of oneof the select levers 25, the control member, which includes the arm 49,is free to follow the cam 43 and when the cam 43 reaches a particularposition in its rotation the bar Si is moved away from the arms 62 oithe twentyfive perforator levers 41. All twenty-five of the perforatorlevers 41 are therefore enabled but, as will be described hereinafter,only two of each group of ve, coresponding to the digital code patternsof the number sensed by the code-sensing device will operate.

Each perforator lever 41 is provided with a second integral radial arm65 which carries at its outer end a vertically projecting pin 66 whichis normally in vertical alignment with an interponent member 22 of acorresponding code lever |9. As previously indicated, each digit of anumber recorded on the primary tape is symbolized by two particularlypositioned perforations and when such a combination of code perforationsis encountered by the sensing fingers of the codesensing device, orreader, a corresponding pair of code levers |9 are pivotally operatedabout their supporting pins 20. When the code levers |3 are thusoperated, their corresponding interponent members 22 are moved out ofthe path of the pins 6B of the corresponding perforator levers 41. Thusit is that, though all twenty-live perforator levers 41 are enabledincident to the operation of a select lever 26 as described, only thoseperforator levers whosecorresponding code levers have been operated willoperate.

From the description thus far advanced it is apparent that, when afive-digit number is sensed by the code-sensing device, iive groups oftwo flat tapes IB will be moved longitudinally in their respective slotsI to cause the operation of five corresponding groups of twocode leversI 9 in each reperforator. The operation of the ten code levers I9removes their interponent members 22 out of the paths of thecorresponding perforator lever pins 66 so that only the tencorresponding perforator levers Will be'oapable of operation. Also, theoperation of these ten perforator levers is dependent upon the operationof one of the ve select levers 26 which, in turn, operates only in theevent the sensed number contains the controlling digital code pattern bywhich the select levers are characterized.

When the conditions set forth above are satisied and the ten perforatorlevers 41 are operated under control of their individual coil springs 63and cam 43, the digital patterns of the sensed number will be reproducedon the reperforator tape 61. This code reproduction. is effected bymeans of punch pins 68, one of which is carried at the outer end of eachperforator lever 41. Thus, when a particular group of ten perforatorlevers 41 is actuated, corresponding to five groups of two codecombinations symbolizing live digits,

their associated punches 68 operate to reproduce, on the tape 61, veidentical code patterns symbolizing a five-digit number sensed by thecodesensing device.

The perforator levers 41 and their integrally formed arms 62 and 65 areeach individually guided in their direction of travel by commoncomb-like structures 10, 1I and 1-2, respectively. A similar device 13serves the same purpose relative to the select levers 26.

The coil springs 4'5 and B3 which serve to actuate the select levers 26and the perforator levers 41, respectively, have one end of eachanchored to a transverse member 14A mounted between the front and rearwalls I0 of the reperforator, the

other ends thereof being anchored to the select levers and perforatorlevers as illustrated.

The tape ofthe reperforator is fed over a perforated drum or cylinder 15which is mounted on a shaft 16. Adjacent 'the inner face of the drum 15and fixed thereto is a ratchet wheel 11 which is adapted to be Asteppedin a counter-clockwise direction by the stepping pawl 18 which iscarried on the outer end of arm 5U of the control member. A stop pawl 19communicates with the teeth of ratchet Wheel 11 to preclude thepossibility of play in the. wheel and to insure correct positioningthereof with respect to the perforator punches 68.

The cams 42 and 43 are individually mounted on shaft 44 andareindividually peripherally contoured to provide a denitetime sequencein the operation of the elements controlled thereby.

Operation In describing the operation ofthe perforator of this inventionit will be assumed that the reperforator disclosed in Figs, 1- and2functions, as the zeroreperforaton with-nine other similarreperforators. under the control of` a single codev reader, o1'-`sensing, device. The reader may be of theltype `disclosedin thecopending application-hereinbetore-identied. This reader is designed tooperate with `code tapes on which each digit of anumber is symbolized bytwo perforations out of a fixed straight linepattern of ve. Thereperforator ot this invention is designed to reproduce code patternsmade up of two perforations out of axed pattern of ve arranged in twolines,v as previously described. The reader of the above identied`copending application will, however, accurately control thereperforator of thisinventiomthoughfin actual-practice the sensinglingers zzoffthesaidreader would be arranged in staggered relationinsteadl of in horizontal alignment as illustrated in the said copendingapplication Also, to adapt the reader of the said copen'dingapplication- 'forv operation with reperforatorsvof thisinventionitisnecessary that it be positioned so that the. shafts thereof, such as48, 3i, 21 and -2I assume vertical positionsv instead of `the.horizontal*positionsA illustrated. In this manner the twenty-five -codelevers 20 of the reader will beindividuarlly aligned with thetwenty-five flattapes -l'ofthe reperforators. However, the reader perse, does notconstitute a part of the presentinventionand*need not bedisclosed other thanV in the schematic form shown in Figs. 4 and 6.

It will be further assumed. that the primary tape t showninlFig`.-3isyfed into the reader and that it carries, in-code perforations, the.code patternssymbolizlng the members shown in Fig. 3. For' purposes ofAsimplicity the description of the operation of the Yreperforator will beconfined to the reproductiorlcY a three-digit number, 019, it being.understoodthat the reperforator, as illustrated, is` 'designed toaccommodate {ive-digit numbers.

When the primary tape isfed to the constantly operating reader, orsensing device the sensing fingers' 22` (Fig. 5 of the above-identiedcopending:4 application)` thereof encounter the co'de perforationssymbolizing the number G19 and in themannerfully described in the saidcopending application; Athree'corresponding groups of tWo'code levers 20.aref actuated. The reader code levers .are schematically 'indicated inFigs. 4 and Sand identified-bythe numeral 2li. More particular-1y;thecode levers "in the-first' and fth positions of the? units group ofve levers, the code leversin'thesecOndandtliird positions of the tensgroup-.of five leve'rsaand` thek levers in the iirst and secondVpositionsl of the hundreds group of ive levers-arefoperatedinconsequenceofI the sensing fingersofthereader encountering the code perforationswhich symbolize the nurnber 019.

It will beA assumed,-` fo'r descriptivel purposes only, that' theselectcylindersv 29 'of all ten reperforators have been :set 'tocondition'the reperforators to sortr intheliuhdred's column, or digitalposition D (Figi 3). UnderthisY condition there willbepresentedi-toftheundersu-rf'ace of the free end of the-"select lever: 26'; .correspondingto the hundreds digitalfpos-ition; in 'each reperforator, a flatsurface-3lVA of their respective select cylin- In respons'eto the-Wactuation of the reader code leversfas-described, a correspondinggroup'ofwsixA actuating tapes'fl 6i are longitudinally displaced, .itbeing understood thaty each such 'tape iscommon toalllreperforators'iland is secured in any suitablemannen-'tofanlindividual one of the reader code leve-rs'Zllf.The-'displacement of the selected' sixtapes Itu causes` correspondingcode levers I9 in each reperforator to be rotated about their pivots 20to displace corresponding code pins 2| and interponent members 22 fromtheir normal positions. Since the number 019 of the reader tape is beingsensed and the sorting is being undertaken in the hundreds digitalposition, zero is the controlling digit. Zero is symbolized by twoperforations appearing in the first and second code positions. Thereforeonly the preselected select lever 29 which is characterized by theperforation code symbolizing zero will be enabled. This is due to thefact that the code pins 2| of the code levers I9 of the hundreds digitalposition in each periorator have been set to simulate the code patternof zero and only the zero reperforator has its select leverscharacterized by code holes symbolizing zero. Thus it is only in thezero reperforator that the actuated code pins 2 I, symbolizing zero,will be moved into alignment with their .corresponding select lever codeholes. In this manner the zero reperiorator is selected to reproduce, incode, the number 019. In all other reperforators there will be code pins2| out of alignment with their corresponding select lever code holes inthe hundreds digital position, thus precluding the operation of theselect levers and therefore of the reperforators.

The cam shaft 44 which is common to all reperiorators is constantlyrotating in synchronism with the reader cam shaft under the control ofmotor BI, Fig. 4. Thus the cams 42 and 43 of the zero reperforatorrotate to control the operation of the enabled select lever 26 and ofthe control member, respectively, the latter consisting of the arms 48,49 and 50. As the cam 42 rotates from its illustrated normal position,the bar 33 is lowered permitting the preselected select lever 26 to movecounterclockwise about the shaft 24. When thus freed, the spring 45functions to pull the select lever downwardly so that the five codeholes thereof register with the corresponding five code pins 2| of thecode levers allocated to the digital position. As this select leveroperates as described, the latch lever 52 is moved clockwise due to theaction of the select lever projection 58 on the bar 53. The latch levers52 therefore are moved out of engagement with the common bar 5| toenable the control member, comprising the arms 48, 49 and 59. The cam43, due toits particularly contoured periphery, permits the now freedcontrol member to move clockwise about the shaft 46 under the action ofspring 60. The stop bar 6 I is then moved out of the path of the arms $2of the perforator levers 4`| and the stepping lpawl 'I8 is retractedfrom the ratchet wheel 'Il for engagement with the next succeeding tooththereof.

With the twenty-five perforator levers 41 thus freed for operation,those levers whose corresponding interponent members 22 of the codelevers I9 have been moved out of the line of travel of the projections66 will fully operate, all other levers being restrained from actuationby their normally positioned interponent members 22. Thus a group of sixperforator levers, corresponding to the code pattern of the number 019,in the zero reperforator will operate under the action of theircorresponding coil springs 63 to cause their respective punches |58 toperforate the tape 6l. It is obvious now, that the perforated codeimpressed on the tape 61 is an exact reproduction of the code sensed bythe sensing device and symbolizes the number 019.

As the cams 42 and 43 continue to rotate, the control member, comprisingarms 48, 49 and 59,

is forced back into its original positions against the action of spring6|). 'I'he arm 48 rcoccupies a position in which the bar 49 isconditioned for reengagement by the latch level` 52. The bar 6 I,secured to the arm 49 acts to restore the actu ated perforated levers 41to normal position, and the pawl l! secured to the arm 59 reengages theratchet wheel 'Il and advances the tape cylinder l5 to the next punchingposition. The cam 42, through link 35 and bar 33 restores the operatedselect lever 25 to normal which, in turn, permits the spring 55 torestore the latch lever 52 to latching engagement with the common bar5|. In this manner the zero reperforator is restored to its originalcondition and prepared to repeat the described cycle of operations underthe control of the cams 42 and 43.

The description of the operation of the re perforator of this inventionthus far has not dealt particularly with the time sequence in which thevarious elements thereoi` and of the controlling sensing device performtheir functions. It is thought that this phase of the description may bebetter understood by enumerating the various steps performed during acomplete cycle of operation in order of their occurrence.

Sequence of operation l. The reader sensing iingers enter the codeperforations in the primary tape.

2. The reader code levers operate, as do also the perforator codelevers.

3. The select lever 26 of the reperiorator opcrates.

4. The perforator levers 4l operate and cause the reperforator punchpins E8 to perforate the tape 61.

5. The perfor-ating levers 41 and the select lever 26 restore to normal.

6. The reperforator stepping pawl 78 operates to step the tape cylinderl5, and the reperforator code levers restore as do the code levers ofthe sensing device.

7. The sensing fingers of the reader or sensing device restore.

8. The reader tape drum is stepped to the next position.

The zero reperforator has now been operated to reproduce the number 019on its tape 67. It is deemed unnecessary to repeat the operations of thereperforators in reproducing the other numbers recorded on the tape 89(Fig. 3). It is apparent from the foregoing description that, as long assorting is carried out in the hundreds channel, the No. 1 reperforatorwill operate to record the number 123; the No. 4 reperforator willoperate to record the number 456; the No. 7 reperforator will operate torecord the number 789; and so on. Similarly, if sorting has beenundertaken in the tens channel E (Fig. 3) the No. 1 reperforator wouldoperate to record the number 019; the No. 2 reperforator would operateto record the number 123; the No. 5 reperforator would operate to recordthe number 456; etc. It is to be understood that in practice the sortingoperations follow a definite sequence starting in the units column, andrepeated in the tens, hundreds, thousands, etc. columns. These sortingoperations are more fully discussed in the above-identifiedinst-mentioned copending application.

What is claimed is:

1. In a tape perforator, tape perforator means, means for enabling theperforator to perform a perforating operation, a group of code leverseach having an integrally formed code pin, a select lever having codeholes corresponding in number to the number of code levers vvandnormally positioned relative to saidcode levers so that less than thewhole oi the code pins thereof are in individual vertical alignment withcorresponding code holes of` said select lever, means for selectivelyoperating said code levers to variably position the code pins thereofrelative to corresponding code holes of said select lever, and means,including said select lever, responsive to the selective operation ofsaid code levers in a manner to effect the individual vertical alignmentof the code pins of all thereof with corresponding select lever codeholes for operating said perforator enabling means.

2. In combination with a codesensing device, a tape perforator includingagroup of ve code levers each having a code pin, means including saidcode-sensing device for selectively operating said code leversinicombinations of two levers to cause the code pins of saidl codelevers to occupy positions simulating anyv of ten diierent patterns, aselect lever having a code hole for each of said code lever` code pinsarranged therein to simulate a particular one of the said ten codepatterns, means eiiective incident to an operation of said code leversin which the code pinsthereof occupy positions simulating the particularcode pattern simulated by the code holes of said select lever forcausing the select lever code holes to register with the code lever codepins, and means responsive to such rgistration` for enabling said tapeperforator.

3. In combinationy with a code-sensing device, a tape perforatorincluding ve groups of five code levers, each code lever having a codepin, means including said code-sensing device for se'- lectivelyoperating the code levers of each'of said groups in combinations of twolevers to cause the code pins or said code levers in each group tooccupy positions simulating any of ten diierent code patterns, a selectlever for each group of code levers each having a code hole for each ofthe code lever code pins of a corresponding group of code levers, thecode holes of each of said select levers arranged to simulateV aparticular one of the said ten codepatterns, means for selectivelyenabling one of said select levers to control the operation of saidperforator, means effective incident to an operation of said code leversby which the code pins of the group of code levers corresponding to theenabled select lever occupy positions simulating the particular codepattern simulated by the code holes of the select levers for causing thecode holes of the enabled select lever to register with the code pins ofthe corresponding group of code levers, and means controlled by theselect leverv incident to the registration of its code holes With thecode pins of the corresponding group of codelevers for operating saidtape perforator.

e. In con'ibination,A anode-sensing device comprising a plurality ofselectively operable code levers, a plurality of reperiorators eachhaving code levers corresponding in number to the number of code leversof said code-sensing device, and means mechanically connecting each codelever oi said sensing device with a corresponding code lever in each ofsaid reperforators comprising a nat metal tape having one notch foreachreperforator, and an integral projection on each of the saidcorresponding code levers of said reperiorators recessed in one of thenotches in said tape, whereby the operation of the code levers of saidcode-sensing device iscommuni'- catedy to corresponding code levers ineach of said reperforators through said tapes.v

' 5. In a code tape perforator, a group of ver'- tical parallellyaligned pivotally mounted code levers each having an integral projectionextending laterally from one vertical edge thereof, the lateralprojection of each of saidvcode levers being diiierently spaced from theupper vend thereof to effect a group of stepped projections occupying acommon vertical plane, a mounting block located in a plane in paralleljuxtaposition with the plane of said stepped code lever 'projections andhaving slot-s located therein, each in substantial horizontal alignmentWith a lateral projection of a different one' of said code levers, and aflat tape longitudinally slidably housed in each oi said slots, each ofsaid tapes having.

a notch therein in constant communication with a lateralprojection. of adiierent one of said code levers, whereby -said code levers `arepivotally operated in response tothe longitudinal movement of theircorresponding tapes.

6. In combination, a code-sensing device` comprising a group'ofselectively operable' code levers; a plurality of reperforators eachcomprising a group oi code levers corresponding in number to the numberof code levers inr said sensing'de'- vice, and each provided with anintegral lateral projection, and means mechanically coupling each of thecode levers of said sensing device with a corresponding code lever ineach of said reperforators comprising a continuous ilat metal tape Xedat one end to a code lever of saidsensing device and extending.therefrom through all said reperforators, said tape having oner notch'per reperforator in'which the lateral projection of a correspondingcode lever in each `reperforator is recessed, whereby the operation ofany ofthe code levers or" said sensing device is communicated to acorresponding code lever in each of' said reperforatorsby saidcontinuous tape, and means for operating' the code levers of saidsensing device.

7. In combination in a tape perforation, a plu'- rality of perforatinglevers adapted to be operated from a normal position to a tapeperforating position, each of said perforating levers hav'- ing ahorizontally disposed arm carrying ari` integral vertical projection, aplurality of parallelly disposed code levers occupying a plane verticalto the plane of the horizontal arms ofsaid'vperforating levers, aninterponent member integrally formed on each` of said code leversnormally occupying a position in superposed alignment with a verticalprojection ona correspondingperforating lever whereby said perforatinglevers are nor;- mally inhibited against operation to tape-perforatingpositions, a lateral projection on-.each of said code levers, and'meansfor selectively, operating said code levers to remove the interponentmembers thereof out of alignment with corre sponding verticalprojections of said perorat ing levers to enable `correspondingperiorating levers, comprising a slidablyv mounted longitudinallymovable flatl metal tape for each of said code. levershaving a notchtherein iny cooperative engagement with the said lateral projectionsoia:corresponding code lever.

8; Incom-bination in a tape perorator, means for enabling the perioratorto perform a perforating operation, a, select lever having amultiplicity of code holes, two of which simulate a particular codepattern, a code lever corresponding to each of said select lever codeholes and each having a code pin, means pivotally mounting said codelevers relative to said select lever so that the code pins of twothereof are normally out oi vertical alignment with the select levercode holes simulating the said particular code pattern and the code pinsof all other code levers are in individual vertical alignment with theremaining select lever code holes, means for selectively actuating saidcode levers to vertically align the code pins of two thereof with the'select lever code holes simulating the said particular code pattern,means effective subsequent to this alignment for operating said selectlever to cause the code holes thereof to register with the code pins cisaid code levers, and means responsive to the operation of said selectlever for operating said perforator enabling means.

9. In combination in a tape perforator, means for enabling theperforator to perform a perforating operation, a plurality of selectlevers each having a multiplicity of code holes, two code holes in eachof which simulate the same particular code pattern, a group of codelevers for each select lever, each code lever having a code pin, meanspivotally mounting the code levers of each group thereof relative to itscorresponding select lever so that the code pins of two code levers ineach group are normally out of vertical alignment with the two codeholes of the corresponding select lever simulating the said particularcode pattern and the code pins of the remaining code levers are inindividual vertical alignment with the remaining select lever codeholes, means for selectively actuating the code levers of all of saidgroups to vertically align the code pins of two in a particular groupthereof with the code holes simulating the said particular code patternin a corresponding select lever, manually operable means for selectivelyenabling the correspending one of said select levers, means effectivesubsequent to the alignment of the code pins of two of a group of codelevers with the code holes of the manually enabled select lever foroperating said enabled select lever to cause the code holes thereof toregister with the code pins of the corresponding group of code levers,and means responsive to the operation of said select lever for operatingsaid perforator enabling means.

l0. In a tape perforator, a group of pivotally mounted verticallydisposed code levers each carrying at one end a code pin and at theother end a corresponding interponent member, a plurality of rotatablyoperable normally disabled perforating levers each provided with a codeprojection, means mounting each of said perforating levers horizontallyrelative to a corresponding coole lever so that the interponent memberof the latter is normally disposed in the line of travel of the codeprojection of the corresponding perforating lever, a select lever forsaid group of code levers having code holes therein corresponding innumber to the number of code levers in said group, means pivotallymounting said select lever relative to said group of code levers so thatall but two of the code lever code pins are in vertical alignment withcoresponding code holes in said select lever, means for pivotallyoperating the two code levers whose code pins are normally out ofvertical alignment with their corresponding select lever code holes tobring the code pins thereof into vertical alignment with theircorresponding select lever code holes and to simultaneously remove theinterponent members thereof from the line of travel of the codeprojections of corresponding perforating levers and thereby enable saidperforating levers, means eective subsequent to the operation of saidcode levers for operating said select lever to eiect the registry of thecode lever code pins with their corresponding select lever code holes,and means effective incident to the registry of said code lever codepins with corresponding select lever code holes for operating theenabled perforating levers.

11. In combination in a tape perforator, means for enabling theperforator to perform a perforating operation, a plurality ofperforating levers rotatably mounted in horizontal alignment on a commonshaft, each of said levers having an integrally formed code projectionon one end thereof and a perforating punch on the other end and adapted,when rotated to a periorating position to move its associated codeprojection vertically upwardly, a plurality of pivotally mounted codelevers arranged in parallel alignment with their longitudinal axes in acommon vertical plane, each of said code levers provided with alaterally projecting interponent member at one end and a verticallyprojecting code pin at the other end, said code levers being so disposedrelative to said perforating levers that the interponent member of eachof said code levers occupies a position in the vertical line of travelof a code projection of a corresponding perforating lever, a selectlever disposed at right angles to the longitudinal axes of said codelevers and having code holes therein, certain of said code holes beinglocated in vertical alignment with a corresponding number of code levercode pins and certain others of said code holes simulating apredetermined code pattern and normally out of alignment with acorresponding number of other code lever code pins, means forselectively actuating a combination of code levers corresponding to thecode pattern simulated by the said certain other code holes of saidselect lever whereby the code pins thereof are moved into alignment withthe code pattern simulating code holes of said select lever and theinterponent members thereof are removed from the line of travel of thecode projections of corresponding perforating levers to enable saidperforating levers, means effective subsequent to the alignment of thecode pins with the select lever code holes simulating the saidpredetermined code pattern for actuating said select lever, and meansresponsive to the operation of said select lever for operating saidperforator enabling means whereby the enabled perforating levers areoperated to perforating positions.

RUDOLPH F. MALLINA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,112,951 Carpenter Apr. 5, 19382,204,957 Carpenter June 18, 1940

